Spring W.Va. International Film Festival ends Saturday

Alicia Vikander and Mads Mikkelsen star in "A Royal Affair," a historical romantic drama that fits the West Virginia International Film Festival's spring theme of "Love Springs Eternal." It is based on the true story of the 18th century love triangle between Danish King Christian VII; his wife, Queen Caroline, and the royal physician, Johann Friedrich Struensee.

Courtesy photo

"Amour" stars Emmanuelle Riva, who earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination, making her the oldest nominee of all time in the category.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The 2013 West Virginia International Film Festival spring festival begins Sunday at the Capitol Center Theater, 123 Summers St. Titled "Love Springs Eternal," it's seven days of films with a primarily romantic bent. There are also a few West Virginia offerings.Before its official start, the festival has a special screening of the 1925 silent film "Phantom of the Opera" (starring Lon Cheney) with live musical accompaniment by organist Todd Wilson, who will improvise the score.It begins at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 900 Washington St. E. Admission is $5.Also, the festival is co-sponsoring the Oscar-winning drama "Amour" at Park Place Stadium Cinemas. The subtitled French/Austrian/German film, about an elderly couple whose relationship is tested when the wife has a stroke, won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film and was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress (Emmanuelle Riva, who, at 85, is the oldest nominee of all time in the category) and Best Directing and Original Screenplay (both Michael Haneke).Showtimes are 1:45, 4:25, 7 and 9:35 p.m. daily. Tickets are $6.50 for matinees, children and seniors and $8.50 for adult evening showings. It is rated PG-13 (mature thematic material including a disturbing act, and brief language).For the rest of the festival, tickets are $8 per film or $5 for students. A six-pack of tickets is available for $30. For more information, visit www.wviff.org. Unless noted, films are English language from the United States.Sunday, April 142:30 p.m.: "A Late Quartet": Rated R (language and some sexuality). Romantic drama.As a world-renowned string quartet prepares to perform Beethoven's String Quartet No. 14, Op. 131 for its 25th anniversary concert, one of the musician's decision to retire leads to the surfacing of suppressed emotions, competing egos and uncontrollable passion. Starring Christopher Walken, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener. 5 p.m.: "A Royal Affair": Denmark/Sweden/Czech Republic. Rated R (sexual content and some violent images). Subtitled. Historical romantic drama. Best Foreign Film Oscar and Golden Globe nominee.In 18th century Denmark, a young queen, married to an insane king, falls in love with the royal physician, who uses his influence with the king to enact sweeping reform and bring the country into the Age of Enlightenment. 7:30 p.m.: "Rust and Bone":France/Belgium. Rated R (strong sexual content, brief graphic nudity, some violence and language). Subtitled. Romantic drama. Golden Globe nominee for Best Foreign Film and Best Actress (Marion Cotillard).A struggling single father with an estranged 5-year-old son helps a beautiful whale trainer (Cotillard) recover her will to live following a terrible accident that leaves her confined to a wheelchair. Monday, April 15

6-10 p.m.: Memorial screening of Bob Gates films:A celebration of West Virginia filmmaker Bob Gates, who died Feb. 2. Suggested donation $8.Features screenings of "In Memory of the Land and the People," "Morris Family Old Time Music Festival," "Mucked," "Communication from Weber" and "Twelve Tall Stacks" as well as remembrances and refreshments. Tuesday, April 166 p.m.: "Rust and Bone"

8:15 p.m.: "Only the Young": Unrated. Documentary.Filmmakers follow three small-town Southern California teens (two boys and a girl), their complicated relationships and their obsession with skateboarding.

Wednesday, April 176 p.m.: "A Late Quartet"With introduction by the Montclaire String Quartet. 8:15 p.m.: "A Royal Affair"Thursday, April 186 p.m.: "Only the Young"8 p.m.: "Beasts of the Southern Wild": Rated PG-13 (thematic material including child imperilment, some disturbing images, language and brief sensuality). Fantasy/drama. Oscar nominee for Best Picture, Best Director (Benh Zeitlin), Best Actress (Quvenzhané Wallis, who, at age 9, is the youngest nominee of all time in the category) and Best Adapted Screenplay.In a forgotten Louisiana bayou, Hushpuppy, an intrepid, optimistic and extraordinarily imaginative 6-year-old, is faced with her father's fading health and melting ice caps that flood her ramshackle bayou community.Friday, April 196 p.m.: "Beasts of the Southern Wild"8 p.m.: "Rust and Bone"Saturday, April 20Note that "A Royal Affair" and "Beasts of the Southern Wild" have been pushed back from their originally scheduled showtimes. 5:30 p.m.: "A Late Quartet"With introduction by the Montclaire String Quartet.7:30 p.m.: "A Royal Affair"9:55 p.m.: "Beasts of the Southern Wild"NOTE: The West Virginia short film "Miracle Boy," adapted from a Pinckney Benedict short story about a boy who risks his life to apologize to another, will screen at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, 8 p.m. April 18 and 9:30 p.m. April 20. The showings are prior to other festival films and included in their admission.Reach Amy Robinson at flipside@wvgazette.com or 304-348-4881.